The Theatre of Dreams, certainly from a visual point of view. Old Trafford is proof that a structured long term architectural plan CAN be accomplished with time, money and a little luck!

The largest club stadium in England, it has taken many years to complete to this level. The original plan was to create a continuous single tier swathe around the ground (completed in 1994), but United's resurgence to the top of English football, plus the renewed demand to see them play, has led the current administrators to extend the stadium ever higher.

The North Stand is already complete. At three tiers, it is the largest cantilevered building in Britain, seating 25,500 spectators. At present the East Stand is undergoing a similar upgrade (you can just see the first strut in place), soon to be followed by the West. Alas, due to traffic congestion, the new structures will be permitted only two tiers, though they will retain the same height as the North Stand, and have been designed to allow for the third tier in the eventuality that the said problem is resolved. This will leave only the South Stand as a single tier, due to a railway line which passes (and serves) directly behind it. Future transport initiatives are sought to remedy this situation. The four curved corners will also remain single tier. Upon completion of this latest initiative, Old Trafford will hold 67,000, all seated. This will make it Britains largest professional club stadium.

This visit was my third to Old Trafford, though my first as tourist. Previous photography was limited to a night game - see Old Trafford (8) - so this trip afforded me the chance to move around and shoot during daylight. It makes all the difference! Funnily enough, having made the trip up from London especially, I arrived at the ground to discover my camera battery had run out (Doh!), so was reduced to purchasing disposables once more. I'm happy to say they didn't let me down, and I can promise that the original prints came back brilliantly, thanks in main to the (all to rare) Manchester sunshine. These are some of my favourite images, shot from the South Stand, having exited the Press Bar out onto the Press Boxes.

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